Lockheed Martin Australia News

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and her French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, today agreed to strengthen the Australia-France defence relationship by establishing formal annual Australia-France Defence Ministers meetings. Minister Payne said Australia and France have a close and long-standing Defence relationship, based on shared interests in contributing to the rules-based global order and strong cooperation in the Pacific. “Building on these links, and in light of the cooperation that we will have for decades to come under the Future Submarine Program, we will establish formal Defence Ministers meetings," Minister Payne said.

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and the Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced that Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the preferred Combat System Integrator for Australia's Future Submarine Program, subject to further discussion on commercial matters. Minister Payne said this is an important step in the development of Australia’s regionally superior future submarines. Mr Pyne said Lockheed Martin Australia intends to team with other Australian companies to provide the local engineering capacity needed to support the program. "Today's announcement again shows the Turnbull Government is setting a cracking pace on delivering on its commitment to build 12 regionally superior submarines in Adelaide," Mr Pyne said.

The Maritime Helicopter Support Company (MHSCo), a Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin joint venture company, today broke ground to build the maintenance and warehouse facilities that will provide Through Life Support logistics services for the Royal Australian Navy's new fleet of 24 MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters. Once completed in early 2015, the two buildings, totaling more than 11,400 square meters (120,000 square feet), will house as many as 120 personnel with the knowledge and ability to keep the fleet in peak flight readiness during its estimated 30-year lifespan. "Excavation and construction of these Through Life Support buildings begin an important chapter for the long-term readiness of Australia's most sophisticated maritime helicopter," said Rod Skotty, President of MHSCo.

The Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) and Lockheed Martin Australia have signed a new strategic alliance to collaborate on a range of technologies for strengthening defense and national security. The agreement was signed for DSTO by the Chief Defence Scientist Dr. Alex Zelinsky and for Lockheed Martin Australia by Chief Executive Raydon Gates. “This ten year agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia reaffirms DSTO’s commitment to enter into long term partnerships with industry for enhancing Australia’s current and future defense capability,” Dr. Zelinsky said.

Lockheed Martin Australia of Canberra and Acacia Research, Ltd. of Adelaide are teaming to pursue the combat system integrator role for the Royal Australian Navy's Future Submarine project, SEA 1000. Under this Department of Defence project, 12 next-generation submarines are envisioned to replace Australia's six existing Collins-class boats. SEA 1000 is expected to be the Australian government's largest-ever single defence project. Under the teaming arrangement, Lockheed Martin Australia will lead overall management of the program pursuit. Following contract award, it would develop and integrate an advanced combat system for the new submarine class, serving as the prime contractor and systems integrator. Acacia Research will be a principal team member.